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7 Best Asics Trainers 2024: Red-Hot Kicks to Buy Right NowDENVER (AP) — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's “America’s Got Talent” meets “American Idol,” with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it’s never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at “Dream Team” status given the men’s side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023 . The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. “We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport,” said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. “We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world.” Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores . “Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That’s something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok , the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado’s two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. “If a receiver is running around, I’m thinking, ‘OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,’” Daniels explained. “They’re like, ‘No, you can’t.’ I’m just like, ‘So I’m supposed to let this guy just run?!’ I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn.” The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. “I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. “I’m not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, ‘I played NFL football for five years. I’m popular. I have a huge name.’ I’m still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise.” Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It’s his way of working on avoiding a “defender” trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. “You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the ‘Redeem Team’ led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, ‘That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. “Everybody thinks, ‘Yeah, the U.S. just wins,’” Daniels said. “But we work hard all the time. We don’t just walk in. We don’t just get off the bus thinking, ‘We’re going to beat people.’” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLlol646 ph mo 。

Falcons favored over the Raiders in Monday night matchupThe Vikings have had starting inside linebackers Ivan Pace Jr. and Blake Cashman together for just six of 11 games this season, and now they’ll be without Pace for at least another four games. Pace was placed on injured reserve Tuesday because of the hamstring strain he suffered in the first quarter of Sunday’s win in Chicago. He left after five plays. He’ll now miss at least games against the Cardinals, Falcons, Bears and Seahawks. The earliest he can return is Dec. 29 vs. Green Bay. The Vikings signed fourth-year linebacker Jamin Davis off the Packers practice squad and to the active roster, joining Cashman, Kamu Grugier-Hill and Brian Asamoah on the depth chart. “We really feel for him,” Cashman said after Sunday’s win . “Hate to see one of your guys get injured. We gotta lean on him, be there for him, and we’re going to need him to get right because we have playoff football ahead.” Pace, the second-year undrafted linebacker, ranks third on the team with 59 combined tackles despite also missing two games earlier this season because of a knee injury. He also has three sacks and a fumble returned for a touchdown during the Oct. 20 loss to the Lions. The Vikings added Davis, a 25-year-old former first-round pick by the Washington Commanders. He spent the past month on Green Bay’s practice squad, where the Vikings acquired him from, after he had been released by Washington in October. Davis, drafted 19th overall out of Kentucky in 2021, was mostly an off-the-ball linebacker for the Commanders over three seasons, when he had seven sacks, six pass deflections and an interception in 36 starts. Washington used Davis sparingly on the defensive line this season before he was cut. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has previously used a committee approach to fill linebacker absences. Cashman missed three games due to turf toe as well. The Vikings leaned on 30-year-old veteran Grugier-Hill, who has played 138 defensive snaps, and safety Josh Metellus, among others, to fill the void.CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Front Row Motorsports, one of two teams suing NASCAR in federal court, accused the stock car series Thursday of rejecting the planned purchase of a valuable charter unless the lawsuit was dropped. Front Row made the claim in a court filing and said it involved its proposed purchase of the charter from Stewart-Haas Racing. Front Row said the series would only approve it if Front Row and 23XI Racing dropped their court case. "Specifically, NASCAR informed us that it would not approve the (charter) transfer unless we agreed to drop our current antitrust lawsuit against them," Jerry Freeze, general manager of Front Row, said in an affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court of Western North Carolina. The two teams in September refused to sign NASCAR's "take-it-or-leave-it" final offer on a new revenue sharing agreement. All other 13 teams signed the deal. Front Row and 23XI balked and are now in court. 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan has said he took the fight to court on behalf of all teams competing in the top motorsports series in the United States. NASCAR has argued that the two teams simply do not like the terms of the final charter agreement and asked for the lawsuit be dismissed. Earlier this week, the suit was transferred to a different judge than the one who heard the first round of arguments and ruled against the two teams in their request for a temporary injunction to be recognized in 2025 as chartered teams as the case proceeds. The latest filing is heavily redacted as it lays out alleged retaliatory actions by NASCAR the teams say have caused irreparable harm. Both Front Row and 23XI want to expand from two full-time cars to three, and have agreements with SHR to purchase one charter each as SHR goes from four cars to one for 2025. The teams can still compete next season but would have to do so as "open" teams that don't have the same protections or financial gains that come from holding a charter. Freeze claimed in the affidavit that Front Row signed a purchase agreement with SHR in April and NASCAR President Steve Phelps told Freeze in September the deal had been approved. But when Front Row submitted the paperwork last month, NASCAR began asking for additional information. A Dec. 4 request from NASCAR was "primarily related to our ongoing lawsuit with NASCAR," Freeze said. "NASCAR informed us on December 5, 2024, that it objected to the transfer and would not approve it, in contrast to the previous oral approval for the transfer confirmed by Phelps before we filed the lawsuit," Freeze said. "NASCAR made it clear that the reason it was now changing course and objecting to the transfer is because NASCAR is insisting that we drop the lawsuit and antitrust claims against it as a condition of being approved." A second affidavit from Steve Lauletta, the president of 23XI Racing, claims NASCAR accused 23XI and Front Row of manufacturing "new circumstances" in a renewed motion for an injunction and of a "coordinated effort behind the scenes." "This is completely false," Lauletta said. Front Row is owned by businessman Bob Jenkins, while 23XI is owned by retired NBA Hall of Famer Jordan, three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and longtime Jordan adviser Curtis Polk. NASCAR had been operating with 36 chartered teams and four open spots since the charter agreement began in 2016. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo. The teams contend they must be chartered under some of their contractual agreements with current sponsors and drivers, and competing next year as open teams will cause significant losses. "23XI exists to compete at the highest level of stock car racing, striving to become the best team it can be. But that ambition can only be pursued within NASCAR, which has monopolized the market as the sole top-tier circuit for stock car racing," Lauletta said. "Our efforts to expand – purchasing more cars and increasing our presence on the track – are integral to achieving this goal. "It is not hypocritical to operate within the only system available while striving for excellence and contending for championships," he continued. "It is a necessity because NASCAR's monopoly leaves 23XI no alternative circuit, no different terms, and no other viable avenue to compete at this level." Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Catalysing climate action Recent COP29 summit underscored several emerging opportunities in global climate action The 29th annual Conference of the Parties (COP29) concluded with a renewed sense of urgency and a litany of commitments aimed at accelerating global climate efforts. Held in the vibrant city of Baku, this year’s summit underscored Azerbaijan’s rising profile as a key player in the global climate dialogue and spotlighted the pressing need for collaborative and innovative solutions to combat climate change. At COP29, key outcomes included strengthened carbon reduction goals, with representatives from major economies pledging to achieve more ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions. This reflects a heightened commitment to meeting the 1.5 C objective outlined in the Paris Agreement, something direly needed to deliver on the commitment. A significant development pertained to the establishment of additional funding mechanisms aimed at aiding climate adaptation and mitigation efforts in less developed countries, especially the ones prone to climate change events. These initiatives intended to tackle existing financial shortfalls and enhance resilience in regions that are most affected by climate change. COP29 also sparked the creation of new partnerships focused on innovative renewable energy initiatives, including efforts directed at cross-border solar and wind projects, as well as investments in green hydrogen technologies. It has also highlighted the necessity of global collaboration, advocating for technology transfer agreements designed to equip developing nations with crucial resources for sustainable growth. These agreements encompassed the exchange of best practices related to energy storage solutions and efficient grid management systems. The inclusion of vulnerable nations was prioritised through a deliberate effort to elevate the voices of indigenous communities and representatives from the nations most affected by relevant issues. Their contributions were fundamental to the development of policies that are both equitable and sustainable. This approach ensured that the perspectives of those who are most impacted are reflected in the decision-making process, leading to outcomes that are more inclusive and just. The recent COP29 summit underscored several emerging opportunities in global climate action. The reaffirmed commitments under the Paris Agreement serve as a testament to the summit’s achievements, with participant nations agreeing on frameworks to expedite the transition to renewable energy and contribute to an ambitious global strategy for carbon neutrality. The summit resulted in a significant increase in funding for green technologies, including pledges to enhance infrastructure for cleaner energy sources, thereby emphasising the importance of collaborative knowledge-sharing to advance technological progress. Economically, a salient message was the potential for growth through green initiatives, as COP29 facilitated investment opportunities in sustainable industries, thereby promising the creation of green jobs along with incentives for advancements in carbon capture technologies, renewable energy production, and energy efficiency. At COP29, several critical challenges were addressed that underscore the ongoing complexities of climate action. The financing gap emerged as a matter of prominent concern, with discussions revealing persistent difficulties in meeting financial commitments to developing countries. Delegates underscored the necessity for clarity in the operationalisation of the newly proposed Loss and Damage Fund, which aims to provide essential support to these nations. The alignment of national policies with international climate pledges was identified as a significant challenge, particularly for nations that remain reliant on fossil fuels. The summit highlighted the resistance encountered from certain governments and industries, emphasising the importance of accountability in these endeavors. While there was considerable enthusiasm for advanced climate technologies, less-developed regions faced considerable obstacles to their deployment, largely due to inadequate infrastructure and economic constraints. Geopolitical tensions were a notable concern, with potential disputes over natural resources and divergent priorities between developed and developing nations. Negotiators called for a stronger consensus to ensure that geopolitical issues do not hinder progress toward effective climate solutions. Experts at COP29 stressed the critical importance of strengthening global partnerships to facilitate equitable climate action. They advocated for the adoption of innovative financing strategies to bridge the existing investment gap and proposed enhanced capacity-building initiatives aimed at empowering developing nations. Furthermore, they recommended the establishment of monitoring mechanisms to ensure adherence to the commitments made during the summit. Although developed nations have made a commitment to increase their financing for developing countries in their mitigation and adaptation efforts, the success of COP29 will be determined by the promptness by which these countries deliver on their commitments. Adaptation and mitigation efforts are dependent on the availability of concessional finance, as the vulnerable nations are in no position to free up resources needed to deal with the entirety of climate spectrum. The Baku climate summit also marked a step forward in garnering support for a fair shift to renewable energy and reform of the fossil fuel subsidies. It asked countries to update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2025 by integrating actionable plans for emission reduction and net zero pathways. The Baku summit also emphasised the need for strengthening corporate accountability through mandatory reporting on climate risks. Despite increased commitment, the real challenge that can still upset the climate agenda pertains to inadequate availability of resources. According to an estimate, funding gap to the tune of $2.4 trillion per year can hinder the efforts to achieve global climate targets. As proceedings at the Baku summit showed, the countries dependent on fossil fuel did not share clear timelines to complete the transition to renewable energy. This reluctance of these nations remains a major potential danger in the efforts to attain climate targets. While global coordination has been identified as a key for the success of climate agenda, diversity of stakeholders with differing income groups, and political agendas and goals makes coordination truly challenging. The situation is further compounded by the lack of an accountability mechanism that is capable of monitoring actions on delivering on finance-related commitments as well as the implementation of NDCs. The link between climate change and international trade flows is empirically established. Climate events such as floods, drought, and hurricanes are known to have caused supply chain disruptions, thus leading to global price hike. Linked to disruption in supply chains is changing trade patterns caused by shifts in sectors such as fisheries, agriculture and energy. Higher risks posed by extreme weather events make shipping insurance and logistics more expensive. At the same time, international trade agreements and policies have the potential to affect trade flows and foster competitiveness. For countries that rely on climate-sensitive industries, there could be reduced export potential due to changing environmental conditions caused by climate threat. The loss of economic opportunities can hike inflation, and lead to unemployment with significant implications for the economy, politics and society at large. This critique notwithstanding, the fact remains that COP29 in Baku marked a significant advancement in the global climate agenda, characterised by both progress and a realistic assessment of the challenges ahead. The summit highlighted the potential for harnessing innovation and fostering international cooperation, while also emphasizing the obstacles that must be addressed to achieve meaningful change. As the global community looks to the future, ongoing commitment and concrete action will be vital in combating climate change and securing a sustainable future for all. The writer is a trade facilitation expert, working with the federal government of Pakistan.

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Arsenal defender Gabriel kept Viktor Gyokeres quiet — then had the audacity to steal the in-demand Sporting Lisbon striker's trademark goal celebration. After heading in Arsenal's third first-half goal in the Champions League on Tuesday, Gabriel linked the fingers of his hands and placed them over his eyes, before laughing with his teammates. It was most likely a dig at Gyokeres, the Sweden striker who has quickly become one of European soccer's hottest properties . That is how Gyokeres celebrates his goals — and he has scored plenty of those this season. Gyokeres has scored 24 goals for Sporting in all competitions and was coming off netting four for Sweden in a Nations League match against Azerbaijan. Earlier in the first half, Gabriel had enjoyed tackling and dispossessing Gyokeres near the Arsenal area — waving both his arms in a gesture to the crowd. Gabriel's goal made it 3-0 to Arsenal at halftime and the English team went on to win 5-1, with Gyokeres failing to score. He did hit the post with a shot late in the game, however — after Gabriel had gone off with an injury. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerHuge Australian crocodile made famous by cameo role in Crocodile Dundee dies

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Pitt women's volleyball defeats Oregon in thriller to reach NCAA Tournament Elite 8DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos signed left tackle Garett Bolles to a four-year extension on Thursday, locking up a big piece to protect rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Bolles has spent his entire career with the organization after being drafted out of Utah with the 20th overall pick in 2017. He has a chance this season to help the Broncos into the postseason for the first time since they won Super Bowl 50 after the 2015 season. The Broncos (8-5) are currently in the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. They can put some distance between them and Indianapolis on Sunday (6-7) with a win over the Colts. After an up-and-down start in Denver, Bolles has developed into a dependable pass protector. He's allowed one sack and 24 quarterback pressures over 13 starts this season. What's more, his 4.9 percent quarterback pressure rate is the second-lowest mark among tackles with at least 200 pass blocking snaps this season, according to NextGen Stats. With time to scan the field, Nix leads all rookies in completions (277), yards passing (2,842), offensive touchdowns (22) and passing touchdowns (17). Bolles earned second-team Associated Press All-Pro honors after the 2020 season. On social media , Bolles posted: “Broncos Country, It’s been a great 8 years! Thanks for everything! And ... I’m not leaving. The show goes on!” Since 2017, Bolles has allowed the sixth-fewest sacks (36) among tackles with at least 3,100 snaps. The extension of Bolles means the Broncos have all five starting offensive linemen on board through next season. Guard Quinn Meinerz agreed to four-year contract extension in July. The Broncos also signed cornerback Patrick Surtain II to a four-year contract extension in September worth $96 million, including $77.5 million in guarantees. Linebacker Jonathon Cooper agreed to a four-year, $60 million extension in November. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflNone